Tarangire National Park

Named after the Tarangire River, this national park is one of Africa's most scenic. It's the best place on Tanzania's Northern Circuit to see lions in trees and large elephant herds. Baobab trees, granite ridges, mixed acacia woodland and grassland cover this 1096 mi² national park.

Tarangire’s wildlife includes buffalo, eland, elephant, Maasai giraffe, oryx, zebra and wildebeest. Other prominent species include Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, hartebeest, impala, lesser and greater kudu, leopard, cheetah and spotted hyena. The birdlife is quite prolific in Tarangire as well; over 550 species have been recorded. When the short rains begin in November, zebra, elephant and buffalo migrate away from the park. They return around June, once the long rains subside.

Crowded conditions are commonplace in the northern park of the park. For a more exclusive safari experience, look for camps within private concession in the central part of the park or in private concessions along its northern border. Several properties in these concessions offer night drives and guided walks, which are unavailable in the park itself.